Merkel to visit London as Cameron seeks support for overhauling EU

German chancellor Angela Merkel will discuss the future of the EU with prime minister David Cameron on a visit to London this month, as Britain seeks support for a sweeping overhaul of EU treaties.

Cameron has yet to spell out all his proposals, but has made it clear he wants to curb immigration from new member states, cut red tape, and improve competition.

He has so far garnered only limited backing for his reform plans among other EU states, but hopes to secure a new deal if re-elected next year before holding a referendum on Britain’s EU membership by 2017. Any signs of support from Germany, the bloc’s biggest economy, would strengthen his campaign.